Apparatus for the encapsulation of a solid within a frozen liquid

ABSTRACT

A liquid holding device with a recess for the encapsulation of a solid-object that can be used for the cooling of a beverage with limited and predetermined amounts of dilution to the beverage. Each recess configured to a stand-off feature for creating a space between a solid object placed within a recess and a surface of that recess allowing for a poured liquid to fill that space and when frozen, encapsulate the solid object in the frozen liquid.

CROSS REFERENCE TO REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 62/083,307, entitled “COMBINED LIQUID AND SOLID COOLINGMETHOD” filed on Nov. 24, 2014, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains in general to the encapsulation of asolid within a frozen liquid typically for the purpose of cooling abeverage without the addition of excess liquid.

BACKGROUND

The cooling of beverages has become common practice across all forms ofbeverages regardless of content or make-up of the beverage. Thetraditional strategy surrounding the cooling of a beverage uses frozenliquids, typically water, into a beverage. The problem, however, is thebeverage dilutes as the ice melts. This gradual dilution of certainbeverage produces a drink that is “watered-down”, which can refer to notonly the volumetric composition of the beverage but may also refer tothe taste and experience surrounding the drink. Watered-down drinks aremore problematic with drinks that are enjoyed over a longer time anddrinks that take longer to drink. This is often the case with beverageshaving been distilled, aged, artisanal and/or have high value. Beveragesthat are imbibed in smaller amounts or limited in volume areparticularly susceptible to being watered-down.

For individuals who seek to cool their beverage but prevent dilution ofthe beverage, one solution is to encapsulate water in a deviceconsisting of a water-tight envelope such as plastic. For example, U.S.Pat. No. 4,325,230 to Driscoll, et al. (Driscoll) describes a deviceencapsulating water in plastic to allow the cooling effect of icewithout diluting the beverage. Such forms can be unsightly and theplastic contacting distilled beverages may retain odor or taste of abeverage in which it is used. Moreover, the plastic of the device mayimpart these odors and/or tastes to subsequent beverages in which thedevice used. Furthermore, plastic related chemicals may seep intobeverages in which the device is placed.

Another solution to cool a beverage without diluting the beverage uses asolid or liquid filled solid that is a metallic or mineral composition,such as granite or soapstone as presented by U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,134 toLahti, et al. (Lahti) incorporated herein by reference.

Some individuals prefer their spirit, such as whisky, with a smallamount of added water. Adding a few drops of water allows the individualto perceive more subtle flavors in the beverage compared to a beveragedrank without a small amount of dilution. Thus, Driscoll and Lahti failto address allowing a small, predetermined amount of water to be addedto the beverage to allow one to perceive the more subtle flavors.

Other solutions use a singular large uniform ice-cube exhibiting a cubicor spherical form that has a smaller surface area to frozen mass ratio.An ice cube with a smaller surface area to frozen mass ratio melts moreslowly than a traditional ice cube. However, this does not provide acontrolled or finite amount of dilution. Rather, as an ice cube meltsand becomes smaller, the surface area to mass ratio increases, and sotoo does the melting rate. With a higher melting rate and smaller amountof beverage, the rate of dilution increases.

Some solutions aim to freeze an object within a volume of fluid for thepurposes of cooling a drink such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,334,941to Linden (Linden), incorporated herein by reference, and U.S. PatentApplication 2013/0232992 to Bisceglie (Bisceglie), also incorporatedherein by reference. Bisceglie describes a method of freezing fruitswithin frozen liquids for the aesthetic and flavor enhancement of abeverage. Linden describes a method freezing liquid of non-buoyantobjects within a volume of frozen liquid to cause an ice-cube to sink tothe bottom of a beverage. Neither Bisceglie nor Linden supportpredictable or consistent results regarding the placement, orientationor spacing of an object frozen within a frozen volume and do not providea finite or predetermined volume of frozen liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In certain embodiments described in the present disclosure specifiesembodiments for a liquid holding device that encapsulates a solid objectin a frozen liquid. Encapsulating a solid object to cool a beverageprovides cooling to a volume of liquid while providing a controlledamount of dilution to the volume of liquid.

Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to a liquidholding device that encapsulates a solid object, such as a stoneintended for use in beverages, in a frozen liquid, such as water, tocool a beverage. One of the many benefits with this strategy is theability to control beverage dilution to a finite amount. Certainembodiments of the present invention surround the cooling of beverageswith a finite amount of dilution of the beverage.

It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that a liquid holdingdevice that encapsulates a solid object within a liquid may comprise amaterial composition including but not limited to metallic, polymeric,organic, inorganic, mineral, ceramic and/or composite in nature. Aliquid holding device for the encapsulation of a solid object may be arigid or flexible construct.

It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that a solid objectfor the cooling of a beverage may take a variety of forms. These formsinclude but are not limited to a cubic, cylindrical, spherical,polyhedral or amorphous shape. It will be appreciated that the conceptas described herein may also be extended to the encapsulation of afrozen liquid within a solid object. Such a solid object may includeapertures, recesses, thru holes or exhibit a hollow form allowingencapsulation of a frozen liquid within the solid object.

It will be further appreciated that a solid object may comprise amaterial composition including but not limited to metallic, polymeric,organic, inorganic, mineral, ceramic and/or composite in nature. It willalso be appreciated that a solid object may be a non-homogenous materialcomposition having differing materials and/or differing phasecomposition, such as a solid external envelope encompassing a liquidinner volume.

Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a liquid holdingdevice having at least one recess configured to hold a solid object. Therecess further comprises a bottom and sides configured to contain afluid. A solid object disposed in the recess is offset from a surface ofthe recess using a stand-off feature. When fluid is added to the recess,the stand-off feature extending from the bottom and/or side provides aspace between the solid object and the surfaces of the recess, allowingthe fluid to solidify or freeze around the solid object. Certainembodiments of the invention comprise a liquid holding device having aplurality of recesses.

Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a liquid holdingdevice having at least one recess, a solid object placed within therecess. The recess further comprises a bottom and sides that contain afluid. The solid object disposed in the recess is offset from a surfaceof the recess using a stand-off feature. The stand-off feature extendingfrom the bottom and/or side provides a space between the solid objectand the surfaces of the recess, allowing the fluid to solidify or freezearound the solid object. Certain embodiments of the invention comprise aliquid holding device having a plurality of recesses.

Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a liquid holdingdevice having at least one recess, a bottom, and sides for thecontainment of a fluid. The solid object is offset from multiplesurfaces of the recess using stand-off features. The bottom and at leastone side have at least one stand-off feature. It may be desired for eachsurface of a recess to have at least one stand-off feature. When fluidis added to the recess, the stand-off features extending from the bottomand one or more sides, provides spacing between the solid object andsurfaces of the recess, allowing the fluid to solidify or freeze aroundthe solid object. Certain embodiments of the invention comprise a liquidholding device having a plurality of recesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1—A perspective view of an embodiment of a liquid holding devicehaving a recess with a stand-off feature

FIG. 2—Perspective views of potential solid object form shapes

FIG. 3—A perspective view of a recess with a plurality of stand-offfeatures

FIG. 4—A section view of solid object held within a recess havingstand-off features and liquid

FIG. 5—A perspective view of a solid object encapsulated within a frozenliquid used to cool a beverage

FIG. 6A—A perspective view of an embodiment having two recesses

FIG. 6B—A perspective view of an embodiment having five recesses

FIG. 7A—A perspective view of an embodiment having four recesses in anarray configuration

FIG. 7B—A perspective view of an embodiment having six recesses in anarray configuration

FIG. 7C—A perspective view of an embodiment having nine recesses in anarray configuration

FIG. 8—Side views of potential stand-off feature form shapes

FIG. 9—A perspective of an embodiment of a liquid holding device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a liquid holding devicecomprising at least one recess with at least a portion of the volume ofthe recess able to retain liquids so as to retain a fluid with a soliddisplaced therein. It will be appreciated to those skilled in the artthat although the present disclosure describes the encapsulation of anobject in a frozen fluid in the context of cooling a beverage, thepresent invention is not limited to such a use.

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, a liquid holding device 100comprises a recess 101, a bottom 103 and sides 102, for the retention ofa liquid. The recess 101 further exhibits at least one stand-off feature104. When a solid object is placed within the recess 101, the solidobject does not fully contact the surfaces of the recess 101. The solidobject instead is offset from the bottom 103 as it rests against thestand-off feature 104 and permits a layer of fluid between the solidobject and the bottom of the recess.

A solid object for the cooling of a beverage may take a variety of formswhich the form of the recess may be configured to engage specificallywith a singular form and size of solid object or may be configured toengage with a plurality of sizes and forms of solid objects. These formsas shown in FIG. 2, can comprise a cubic form such as 401 a or 401 bhaving filleted edges, however the form is not limited to such forms.The shape of the solid object used to cooling a beverage may include acylindrical 401 c, spherical 401 d, polyhedral 401 e or amorphous shape.The present invention may be extended to the encapsulation of a frozenliquid within a solid object. Such a solid object may include apertures,recesses, thru holes or exhibit a hollow form allowing the encapsulationof a frozen liquid within the solid object. A solid object may be amineral, metallic and/or polymeric material. Certain embodiments of thepresent invention encapsulate solid objects to cool beverages bysurrounding solid objects less than 4 inches (10.16 cm) of majordimension and more preferably for those of 2 inches (5.08 cm) orsmaller. Certain embodiments of the present invention have stand-offfeatures to symmetrically encapsulate solid objects of cubic formsymmetric form with length, width and height from 0.825 inches (2.10 cm)and 1.125 inches (2.86 cm).

In certain embodiments of the present invention, a liquid holding device300, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, have a recess 101 with a pluralityof stand-off features 104. The plurality of stand-off features 104constrains a solid object 401 placed within the recess laterally andvertically offset from the sides 102 and bottom 103. The offsetmaintains a space between sides of a solid object 401 and sides 102 andbottom 103 of the recess 101. Liquid 402 poured into the recess occupiesthe space between the solid object 401 and the sides 102 and bottom 103of the recess 101. When the liquid 402 is frozen with the solid object401 in the recess 101, the solid object 401 is encapsulated within theliquid 402 with the liquid 402 in a frozen state. Certain embodimentshave a plurality of stand-off features on at least one side. Anencapsulated solid object, as shown in FIG. 5, may then be displacedwithin a volume of liquid 507 to provide cooling while also providingfinite dilution of a beverage.

Certain embodiments have multiple recesses. The multiple recesses allowthe encapsulation of multiple solid objects within frozen liquid. FIG.6A shows an embodiment with two-recesses 601 and stand-off features 104.FIG. 6B shows an embodiment with five recesses 602 and stand-offfeatures 104. In certain embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C(701, 702, 703) a plurality of recesses with standoff features 104, inan array configuration, allow the placing of a solid object and liquidin each recess. The solid object becomes encapsulated when placed in anenvironment having a temperature at or below the freezing point of theliquid. Although the present invention may comprise any number ofrecesses, it may be desired to use a number of recesses that provide forarray construction, such as an 4, 6, 8, 9 recesses.

Certain embodiments further comprise stand-off features having a similarmaterial composition to the rest of the liquid holding device. Incertain embodiments, the stand-off features are one continuous part,such as being formed of the same material in a casting process.

Certain embodiments comprise stand-off features to space a solid objectwithin a liquid. The stand-off features can be of any form designed toprovide an offset between a surface of a recess and a solid objectdisposed therein. Some stand-off features have a consistent or taperingprofile extending axially away from the surface to which they areattached. FIG. 8 shows some different forms of stand-off features. Astand-off feature with a tapered form reduces in cross-sectional areaparallel to the side of the recess to which they are attached. Thereduction of cross-sectional area allows easy removal of a solid objectencapsulated in a frozen liquid after a freezing process. Examples oftapered forms include, but are not limited to, hemispherical forms 801a, truncated hemispheres, tapering polyhedrons 801 b, conical 801 cand/or truncated conical 801 g forms. A stand-off feature may also use anon-tapering form, such as a rounded cylindrical form 801 d, cylindricalform 801 e or non-tapering polyhedron 801 f. Although a non-taperingstand-off feature may be used on any surface of a recess, they aregenerally used on the bottom surface of a recess.

Certain embodiments comprise a recess with at least one stand-offfeature. In certain embodiments of the stand-off feature the distancethat a stand-off feature extends away from a surface of the recess up tothe center of the recess. In alternative embodiments, the stand-offfeature extends less than 25% of the distance across the recess to theopposing surface. Furthermore, It may be desired in some embodiments forthe stand-off feature to be less than or equal to 0.25 inches (0.635 cm)extension away from the surface to which the stand-off feature isattached.

Certain embodiments comprises a plurality of cubical recesses 101arranged in array configuration as shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C. Atleast two sides 102 of the recesses 101 share a separating structure ofadjacent recesses, seen 701, 702, 703.

In certain embodiments, each side of each recess further comprises twohemi-spherical stand-off features. At least one cylindrical stand-offfeature is located centrally to the bottom. The use of multiplestand-off features on the sides increases constraint and can be used toencapsulate cubical solid objects, the solid objects ranging in sizefrom 0.825 inches (2.10 cm) and 1.125 inches (2.86 cm) cubes. The liquidholding device may comprise a polymeric composition that is consideredto those skilled in the art to be food-safe. Such food-safe materialsmay include, but are not limited to, polyethylene terephthalateethylene, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene,polypropylene, and/or silicone based materials.

Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a cast siliconecomposition arranged as seen in FIG. 9. Certain embodiments furthercomprise an array of recesses 101, each having 4 sides 102 and a bottom103 and are able to retain liquid in fluid form. Each side 102 exhibitsa plurality of hemispherical stand-off features 104, more preferably twostand-off features 104 horizontally opposed from each other. Thehorizontal opposition increases rotational constraint of a solid objectdisposed therein. The bottom 103 further comprises at least onestand-off feature 104, which can be a centrally located cylindricalstand-off feature. Each side 102 and bottom 104 of the recesses cancomprise a rectangular shape with length and width between 0.75 inches(1.91 cm) and 1.25 inches (3.175 cm)

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly,the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrativerather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of present teachings. The descriptivelabels associated with the numerical references in the figures areintended to merely illustrate embodiments of the invention, and are inno way intended to limit the invention to the scope of the descriptivelabels.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid holding device comprising: a firstrecess having at least one surface and an aperture; a first surfacehaving a first stand-off feature; said first stand-off feature extendingaway from said first surface toward an interior region of said recess;wherein a first solid object within said recess is encapsulated whenliquid added to said first recess is frozen.
 2. The liquid holdingdevice of claim 1, wherein said first recess further comprises: a secondsurface; said second surface further comprises at least one stand-offfeature extending away from said second surface toward the interior ofsaid first recess.
 3. The liquid holding device of claim 1, wherein saidfirst surface further comprises; a bottom of said first recess; saidfirst recess further comprises a plurality of sides contiguous to saidbottom and extending upward toward said aperture; and said plurality ofsides each further comprising at least one stand-off feature extendingaway from each of said plurality of sides toward the interior of saidfirst recess.
 4. The liquid holding device of claim 3, wherein saidplurality of sides each further comprises a plurality of stand-offfeatures.
 5. The liquid holding device of claim 4, wherein at least twoof said plurality of stand-off features are horizontally spaced fromeach other.
 6. The liquid holding device of claim 4 wherein saidplurality of stand-off features further comprise a tapered form.
 7. Theliquid holding device of claim 4 wherein said plurality of stand-offfeatures further comprise a hemispherical form.
 8. The liquid holdingdevice of claim 3, wherein said stand-off feature extending away fromeach of said plurality of sides provides offset between said bottom andsaid plurality of sides of said first recess and said first solid objectplaced within said recess through said first aperture
 9. The liquidholding device of claim 1, wherein said liquid holding device comprisesa plurality of recesses.
 10. The liquid holding device of claim 1,wherein said liquid holding device comprises a food safe materialcomposition.
 11. The liquid holding device of claim 1, wherein saidliquid holding device comprises silicone.
 12. The liquid holding deviceof claim 1, wherein said stand-off feature provides offset between saidfirst surface and a first solid placed within said recess through saidfirst aperture.
 13. A liquid holding device comprising: a plurality ofrecesses, each identical in configuration; each of said plurality ofrecesses having a symmetrical cubical form having a bottom, sides and anaperture; said bottom having a centrally located stand-off featurehaving a cylindrical; each of said sides being contiguous with saidbottom and extending upward toward said aperture; said sides having twostand-off features of hemispherical form; said stand-off features ofhemispherical form being vertically centered on each of said sides andhorizontally spaced from each other; said plurality of recessesconfigured in an array; said liquid holding device comprising food-safematerial; said stand-off features extending away from said sides andsaid bottom inward toward an interior region of said recesses providingoffset between said sides and said bottom of said recesses; a pluralityof solid-objects placed, one within each of said plurality of recesses;and a liquid added to said plurality of recesses to occupy spacescreated by said offsets for the encapsulation of said plurality of solidobjects, each individually, within said liquid when frozen.